The Peabody Awards

Awards

The edification, the fearlessness and the fair, firm moderation which have characterized George V. Denny’s selection and conduct of America’s Town Meeting of the Air were never more urgently needed by conscientious listeners. To Mr. Denny, to his capable staff, and to the American Broadcasting Company, we take pleasure in presenting the Peabody Award for the outstanding educational program of 1945. Mr. Denny has the distinction of being the first double winner: Town Meeting received the medal in... read more

Outstanding Local Public Service: For outstanding local public service, the award goes to KOMA of Oklahoma City for its Save a Life campaign. Undertaken primarily as a local public service, this series was so successful during 1945 that it has served as a model for a similar regional undertaking in 1946. Indicative of the local value of this public service is the fact that traffic deaths had risen 60 percent over the 1944 total before this program was... read more

Outstanding Entertainment in Music: The Board was, as always, grateful for the superb recordings of the Metropolitan Opera and the great symphonies. In choosing the NBC Symphony of the Air for a music award, the Board salutes not only a magnificent conductor, but takes special recognition of an orchestra brought together explicitly for the radio and far-reaching educational program which together have made fine music a living force in millions of American homes.... read more

Outstanding Regional Public Service: For outstanding public service by a regional station, the Board has chosen station KFWB for its program, Toward a Better World. This unique coverage of the United Nations Conference in San Francisco, wherein trained analysts, statesmen, reporters, and men in the street were utilized, contributed greatly to a comprehensive, critical understanding of the complexity of the programs of the conference, and serves as an excellent example of how the broadcasting industry can contribute both... read more

Outstanding Children’s Program: The award for an outstanding children’s program this year goes to one which has demonstrated through scores of broadcasts that the radio industry can provide programs for its young listeners that are both instructive and highly entertaining. We March With Faith, upon which the award is hereby bestowed, has covered various aspects of science through both field trips and study programs, has not only been required listening for various school groups, but has been so... read more

The Peabody Award for outstanding reporting of the news goes to the Columbia Broadcasting System and, in particular, to Mr. Paul White, who has brought into action a reportorial team which is preeminent. They have done their work with a latitude, a judgment, and a sense of responsibility which derive in no small measure from his direction. To Mr. White and his team go our unanimous thanks for such expert coverage.... read more

Working within a formula sanctioned by long usage and great popularity, Edgar Bergen has brought to the air a mimicry, an original wit, and a power of characterization which are refreshing. To him and his incomparable but underpaid assistants, Charley McCarthy and Mortimer Snerd, a Peabody Award for many laughs.... read more

(Honorable Mention) To station KRNT, Des Moines, a special citation for its forethought and enterprise in sending George Cremeens and Frank Ligouri to New Mexico, there to record the only on-the-scene broadcast of the Atomic Bomb on trial.... read more

(Honorable Mention) In Mr. Colombo Discovers America, Arnold Harley and station WOV have presented the problems of a minority group with sincerity, truthfulness, and forthrightness, and thereby have pointed the way to how broadcasting may contribute to the larger problems of understanding among all races, nationalities, and religions which compose our democracy. In recognition of this guide post to radio’s handling of group tensions a special citation from the Peabody Board.... read more

Recognizing his pioneer and continuing efforts, imaginative and intelligent, not only to adapt drama to the requirements of radio, but to create a dramatic form especially for broadcasting, the Board, in admiration and gratitude, has chosen Arch Oboler* for a Peabody Award in the field of drama. *Oboler is best remember for his scripts for the suspense-horror series Lights Out.... read more

(Honorable Mention) Radio station WHAS, in conjunction with the Committee for Kentucky, has added radio’s testimony to the validity of the biblical injunction, “Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.” This series made known to Kentuckians the pleasant and unpleasant facts about their state, the ultimate aim being “the restoration of Kentucky’s greatness.” In recognition of a series and a pattern that may well lead to better conditions elsewhere, a special citation from... read more

An award in music goes to Dr. Howard Hanson, The Eastman School of Music and station WHAM of Rochester, New York, in recognition of their contributions through broadcasting to music education, especially the promotion of creative work by young artists.... read more